Fence or dike.



PATENTED APR. 23, 1907. J. W. HUMPHRBY. 1

FENCE OR DIKE.

APPLICATION FILED UG JaZz'us 77: ,1;

A TTOHNE YS the plates 2.

UNIFD STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

FENCE OR DIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907.

Application filed August 21,1906. Serial No. 331,459.

To (LI/l whom it may comm/-11..-

Be it known that I, J ULIUs \YoLco'r'r HUMPHREY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of St. Johns, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and Improved Fence or Dike, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to fences or dikes.

The object of the invention is to construct a fence or (like in a simple manner, so that it may be readily erected, and to arrange the parts so as to allow for contractions and ex pansions due to changes of temperature or from other causes.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding p arts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective showing a portion of the dike partly in cross section; Fig. 2 is a plan showing a'short portion of the fence at a post, certain parts being shown in section; Fig. 3 is a perspective showing a portion of a batten which is disposed between the panels of the fence; Fig. 41 is a face view showing a portion of the fence at a post, the adjacent side of the post being represented as removed; and Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section, on the line 55 of Fig. 2, through the u pper portion of a post.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1, l, 1 represent panels of the fence or (like. These panels are formed of individual plates 2, which are placed one above the other, as shown. In Fig. 1 I have shown the panels as composed of two of these individual members or plates, but there .may be more or less of these, as desired. At one extremity, the members 2 which compose each panel are formed into a vertical cleat 3, in any suitable manner. The horizontal edges of the members 2 do not come directly together, but between them I place a longitudinal batten 1, the construction of which is very clearly shown n Fig. 5. This batten comprises a body 5 having a width equal substantially to the thickness of the members 2. On the side faces of this body-piece 5 facing-plates or strips 6 are formed. In this way these plates 6 project in opposite directions and afford means for covering the crack between The manner of applying the batten between the plates 2 is most clearly illustrated at the left of Fig. 1, where it will [ceived in the space between the adjacent edges of the plates 2, as suggested. It should be understood that the cleats 3 are formed preferably only at one side edge of the panels.

The posts 8 are formed of longitudinallydisposed sections 9, and these sections are at tached on opposite sides of the vertical edge of each panel, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1. The inner faces of the post sections 9 are cut away, so that when placed together they form a longitudinal opening or channel 10, which passes continuously through the posts; in this way, oppositely-disposed shoulders 11 are formed, which lie adjacent to a contracted opening 12, which passes into the post on the side opposite the panel to which it is rigidly attached.

The attachment of the posts to the panels is preferably ell'ected by means of screw-bolts 13, which pass through oppositely-disposed metal binding-strips 14. The posts may be built of short sections placed vertically one above the other, and the upper extremities of the binding-strips 14 preferably project somewhat above the upper extremities of the short sections, so as to all'ord means for rigidly connecting the parts of the complete post when formed in this manner.

In erecting the fence or dike, it should be understood that the panels and posts will be driven into the ground to a suitable point, the panels being arranged as shown, to interlock with the adj accnt post by means of the cleats 3. This arrangement is shown most clearly in Fig. 1, where it will be observed that the cleat lies in the opening 10 and its projecting faces lie opposite the shoulders 11 referred to above, while the members 2 composing the panel pass through the contracted opening 12. hen the panels are arranged, interlocking with the posts, as shown, in the openings or channels 10, I place curved springs 15, which tend to hold the parts in position, as will be readily understood. These springs thrust against the shoulders 11 and the inner faces of the cleats 3, and hold the outer faces of the cleats against the opposite wall of the channel. They are preferably of substantially the form shown, consisting of elongated strips which are bent alternately in opposite directions to form a series of bows, as will be readily understood. Certain of the bolts 13 are prefer ably formed into eye-bol ts to which stays 16 be seen that the body 5 of the batten is rcattach, said stays being inclined toward the earth; they are attached to studs 17, or piling driven for the purpose, as indicated; these braces are, of course, located on the side on which the pressure is applied, that is, on the land side. In this way the device is admirably adapted to act as a retaining Wall for made land at the waters edge.

At the ends of the battens the bodies thereof are extended to form tongues 5 as indicated in Fig. 3. The ends of these tongues abut against each other, as shown in Fig. 4. In this Way the tongues support the inner corners of the panels, so that a firmer seat is made at the upper end of the post when it is being driven.

In the upper edges of the upper panels I form openings 18, which facilitate the attachment of a hook in lowering the panel into place or in removing the same.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A structure of the class described, coinposed of interlocking panels, said panels consisting of plates placed longitudinally one above the other, battens disposed in the space between the adjacent longitudinal edges of said plates, said battens having facing strips projecting over the adjacent edges of said plates, cleats attached to the vertical edges of said panels on one side, and posts attached to the edges of said panels opposite said cleats, each of said posts having a channel receiving the extremity of the adjacent panel and cleats carried thereby, said battens having tongues at the ends thereof projecting into the said channels of said posts and supporting the panels thereabove When said panels and posts are driven downwardly.

In testimony Whereof' I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JULIUS W OLCOTT HUMIHREY. WVitnesses:

H. DENLINGER, PM. VAN GRoos. 

